La Paz - The Secret Spot In Mexico Everyone Should Know About
The tip of Baja California Sur, Mexico is known for its incredible blue waters, white sand beaches, flourishing marine life, and heartwarming culture. We recently traveled here to experience this paradise for ourselves, and learned about the secret spot known as La Paz. The La Paz area has some of the bluest waters along the peninsula and is only about 2 hours drive north of Cabo. The water rivals the dreamy turquoise hues found in French Polynesia and Maldives, but without all the crowds or long flights.
AT A GLANCE
Currency: Mexican Peso, most places take credit card
Language: Spanish, most people speak some English
Typical Weather: Mild arid climate, warm sunny summers and cool rainy winters
Nearby Airport: Los Cabos International Airport (SJD)
Best way to get there: Daily flights in or drive down the coast of Baja
Days to spend: 2-3 days
GETTING AROUND:
Car: We decided to rent our own car to have the most freedom to drive around and explore and we were happy we did. There are many beaches in the area that are far away from each other and could be cumbersome to reach without a vehicle of your own.
Bus: Always an option, but we would not recommend this if your time is limited! Buses can also be tricky when going to more remote parts of the peninsula where there aren’t direct routes.
THINGS TO DO:
TODOS SANTOS
During the drive up to La Paz, you venture through the historic town of Todos Santos. Original founded by indigenous peoples who built a community centered around an oasis, Todos Santos has grown into a vibrant and chic destination, not to be dismissed by passers by. The narrow streets with colorful flags flap over head as you explore the different nooks and corners that this town has to offer. There are lots of cute cafes and coffee shops to stroll through as well as local shops. And if surfing is your thing, some of Baja’s best surfing beaches are within a 10 minute drive.
EL FARO BEACH CLUB
We spent an afternoon at the El Faro Beach Club, which is situated on this remote stretch of beach and has all the amenities you would need to spend a relaxing day at the beach. They have a fully functioning restaurant and bar, pool, loungers, hammocks, palapas, spa, and of course an incredible view for sunset! If you are looking to grab some food for dinner, you can drive up to their sister restaurant on the hill, known as ‘El Mirador’. Now this is the place to experience sunset! As the sun disappears over the horizon, the restaurant lights up with a tranquil orange glow, and sets the perfect ambiance for a romantic dinner out.
BOAT TRIP TO ESPIRITU SANTO
One thing that is a must in the area is taking a boat tour out to the island Espiritu Santo. The island also has incredble beaches and turqouise blue water, but also home to a flourishing sea lion colony and abundant marine life. We even were able to swim with the sea lions! The baby sea lions are especially playful :) Also along the coast of the island are some rock arch formations. We couldn’t help think how similar this felt to taking a boat trip in Zakynthos or even Capri. We booked our trip with and had a wonderful day out on the water.
WHALE WATCHING
Of course, if you come during the migration season for humpback whales (December to April), you have a very high chance of seeing these breach the surface! We saw a small pod as they came up for air and it was insane to be so close to such giant animals.
Explore old town La Paz
The vibe here is very chill and quiet, with authentic food and relaxing spots along the beach. Take a stroll through the old historic district near the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de La Paz and hit up some of the little taco shops or sip fresh coconuts with a view of the water. Our favorite spot was a local place along the harbor with a beach hut vibe and all the fresh cut fruit and coconuts you could want. It was called “Cocos Frios” and was the perfect spot to watch sunset over the harbor.
BAlandra Beach
An absolute must, is visiting the famous Balandra Beach. The bay here is secluded and feels very remote. The parking lot is right next to the beach, so it is super easy to find and accessible by car. If you are staying in Cabo, there are tours that arrange transfers from Cabo to Balandra (approximately 2 hrs drive), but we recommend staying in La Paz overnight and hitting this beach in the morning, and during the middle of the week, as weekends tend to draw more crowds.
Upon arriving, you will notice a hill on the right, it is a quick hike to the top and offers the best views of the bay. The water is shallow and incredibly clear, and if you are looking for the blue blue water, you simply walk over to the right to another bay, away from the parking lot, and the water tends to be even more vibrant on this side. We came in the morning around 10am and it wasn’t very crowded. If you are planning to stay for the day, you can snag one of the free beach palapas, but they become occupied quickly! The number of visitors to the beach is limited (150-200 per day).
See Wild Donkeys at East Cape
We’ve seen a lot of wild life on beaches, from penguins in South Africa to goats in Greece and Komodo dragons in Indonesia, but we’ve never seen (or heard) of wild donkeys until we went to East Cape beaches down south of La Paz. These cute animals are super friendly and will come right up to your car or where your hanging out on the beach (especially if you have some food to share). We brought a bushel of bananas (carrots work well too!) which they seemed to enjoy and hung out there for the day. The beaches over on the East Cape are really beautiful with a relaxed surfer vibe. There’s a few restaurants scattered along the coast for food/drinks, but you may want to bring up some snacks of your own because options can be a bit limited. We drove our rental car (2-wheel drive) on these roads with no problem, but it would probably be more comfortable in a 4x4.
Swim the sea of Cortez
Known for having some of the best dive spots in all of North America, don’t miss out on seeing the what has been called the “World’s Aquarium.” Choose to snorkel, free dive, or scuba dive through this insanely blue water filled with endless wildlife from fish to dolphins, manta rays, and beautiful coral reef. Cabo Pulmo National park is known for being the jewel of the sea of Cortez and is one of three coral reefs on this side of the North America.
Where to Stay:
La Paz
Costa Baja: A huge draw to visiting La Paz is the blue water, and would recommend a few days in the area so you can beach hop to a few different places. We stayed just north of the main town area in Puerto Cortez at Coast Baja Resort & Spa. If golfing is your jam, they have an incredible golf course right along the coast with incredible ocean views, and the restaurant at the clubhouse is a perfect sunset spot perched on the hill! Definitely check it out for a dinner or even just a sundowner.
others to consider:
Baja Club Hotel: located on the board walk of La Paz, is a beautiful historic hotel with restored colonial style villas
Casa Al Mar: boutique hotel located near the heart of historic La Paz with newly renovated rooms and courtyard
Todos Santos
Guaycura Boutique Hotel: The perfect boutique hotel in the center of the historic region of Todos Santos, walking distance from all the shops and restaurants, and tastefully decorated with Mexican chic decor. There’s a rooftop pool and bar as well as garden restaurant for breakfast/lunch. It is a locally owned eco-friendly hotel using sustainable water practices, renewable energy for powering their facilities, and an organic orchard for sourcing their food. They are also helping to support local wildlife including turtle populations along the coast.
others to consider:
Hotel San Cristobal: Super chic, featured in Vogue Magazine
Hotel Casa Tota: Boutique hotel with rooftop deck
Haciendo Todo Santos: 6 guest rooms surrounding a pool in the heart of historic downtown
We were surprised to find such a stunning paradise so close to the US, and hope to return to the sapphire waters of La Paz soon!